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Published in:
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics Read chapter Read first chapter

2016 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

88. Fires in Vehicle Tunnels

Authors : Ricky Carvel, Haukur Ingason

Published in: SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering

Publisher: Springer New York

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Abstract

Tunnel fire safety is a complex problem with no clear solution as yet. Current knowledge of vehicle fire behaviour in tunnels has been established on the basis of a relatively small selection of experimental fire tests, each of which is described. The characteristics of vehicle fires in tunnels are highlighted and issues to be considered when defining ‘design fires’ for tunnels are discussed. The mechanisms of fire spread in the tunnel environment are presented. The most common fire protection measures used in tunnels are ventilation systems, passive thermal barriers and, increasingly, water spray systems. Each of these three system types are discussed.

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previous chapter Wildland Fires
next chapter Fire Risk Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants
Glossary
CAFS
Compressed Air Foam System
CVV
Critical Ventilation Velocity
FFFS
Fixed Fire Fighting System
HGV
Heavy Goods Vehicle
HRR
Heat Release Rate
MTFVTP
Memorial Tunnel Fire Ventilation Test Program
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association
UPTUN
Upgrading of Existing Tunnels Project
PIARC
World Road Association
SAFE-T
Safe Tunnels Project
SOLIT
Safety Of Life In Tunnels Project
WMS
Water Mist System
Dh
Hydraulic diameter of the tunnel (m)
ΔH c,ox
Heat of combustion for oxygen (13.02 kJ/g)
Lc
Combustion zone length (m)
Lf
Flame length (m)
Q
Heat release rate (kW or MW)
qinc
Incident heat flux (kW/m2)
Tavg
Average gas temperature across a tunnel cross-section (K or °C)
Tcr
Critical ignition temperature (K or °C)
Tg
Gas temperature (K or °C)
Ts
Solid (surface) temperature (K or °C)
Tvap
Vaporization/ pyrolysis temperature (K or °C)
V
Volumetric airflow (m3/s)
εg
Gas emissivity (between 0 and 1)
ηO2
Depleted oxygen level (less than 0.21)
ρ
Density of air (1.2 kg/m3)
σ
Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.67 × 10−8 W/m2⋅K4)
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Metadata
Title
Fires in Vehicle Tunnels
Authors
Ricky Carvel
Haukur Ingason
Copyright Year
2016
Publisher
Springer New York
Book
SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering

Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2564-3

Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4939-2565-0

Copyright Year: 2016

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-0_88